Top things to do this weekend, March 17-19

Thursday

Mar 16, 2017 at 5:00 AM

ALL WEEKEND

Irish pride

Two parades traditionally mark St. Patrick's Day in central Ohio: at 11 a.m. Friday, the Shamrock Club parade will form at Naghten and 5th streets and travel on Grant, Broad and High streets to the Greater Columbus Convention Center; and at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dublin's Greenest, Grandest St. Patrick's Day parade will start at Metro Place on Frantz Road and head on Bridge Street to High Street. Visit www.shamrockclubofcolumbus.com or dublinohiousa.gov.

‘The Normal Heart’

Short North Stage, Garden Theater. Contact: 614-725-4042, www.shortnorthstage.org Details: The drama examines the early days of the struggle by gay activists to cope with the AIDS epidemic in New York in the 1980s. The show is presented in a staged reading to mark the 30th anniversary of the Food and Drug Administration's approval of of AZT, the first drug used to combat HIV-AIDS. Showtimes: 8 tonight and Friday night and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; with a discussion after the Friday show. Tickets: $20.

‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’

Eclipse Theatre Company, 670 Lakeview Plaza Blvd. Contact: 614-881-0382, eclipsetheatrecompany.org Details: The comic drama revolves around a young man hoping to change his life when he hears that a Hollywood director is coming to Ireland to make a movie. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through March 26. Tickets: $18 Fridays through Sundays; “pay what you can" on Thursdays with nonperishable food donations for the Worthington Food Bank.

Greater Columbus Convention Center Contact: www.columbusautoshow.com From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the Columbus International Auto Show will feature child-friendly events such as a balloon artist and face painting. From 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, animals from Columbus Zoo & Aquarium will visit. Show hours: noon to 9 p.m. today and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $10, or $5 for students (and ages 55 and older on Friday), free for ages 9 and younger.

“Art in Motion”

In recent weeks, dancers at BalletMet have been preparing for the world premiere of “Airavata.” Choreographed by Artistic Director Edwaard Liang, the ballet presents six dancers who will perform while water mists and then pours from pipes positioned above the stage of the Riffe Center’s Davidson Theatre. The ballet, part of the triple bill “Art in Motion,” will make its debut Friday. The program will continue through March 25. Contact: 614-469-0939; 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com Showtimes: 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and March 24-25; 2 p.m. Sunday; and 7:30 p.m. March 23; senior dress rehearsal: 11 a.m. Friday. Tickets: $29 to $72, or $23 for the dress rehearsal.

Ohio 24-Hour Science Fiction Marathon

Drexel Theatre. Contact: 614-231-1050, www.drexel.net; www.scifimarathon.com Time: noon Saturday to noon Sunday. Admission: $40, or $45 at the door. The Ohio 24-Hour Science Fiction Marathon will begin at noon Saturday at the Drexel Theatre. One of the schedule highlights is the Midwest premiere of “Nova Seed,” a hand-drawn film by animator-director Nick DiLiberto. Also on the bill are two somewhat-related films: “Dune,” the 1984 adaption by director David Lynch of the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name, and “Jodorowsky’s Dune,” a documentary about director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s ambitious plan to film “Dune” that never got off the ground. Stephen Scarlata, a producer of “Jodorowsky’s Dune,” will appear at the screening.

Rumpke Mountain Boys

Woodlands Tavern. Contact: 614-299-4987, www.woodlandstavern.com With more than 1,000 songs in their repertoire, the Rumpke Mountain Boys rarely play the same show twice. The Cincinnati-based bluegrass "plus" foursome — they also dabble in Celtic, Americana and jazz — has yet to create a set list. Their headlining slot during St. Fattys Daze festival at Woodlands Tavern — which also features Turkuaz and Electric Orange Peel, among others — will be a far cry from their early St. Patrick’s Days spent pub crawling through Cincinnati. Doors open: 4 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $15 a day, or $25 for both days.

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FRIDAY

Liturgical drama

In a presentation by Early Music in Columbus, the vocal group Eya: Ensemble for Medieval Music will perform “Les Trois Maries,” a religious work from the 14th century, at 8 p.m. Friday at First Congregational Church. Details: www.earlymusicincolumbus.org

Stevie Nicks

Nationwide Arena. Contact: 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com Details: Nicks’ last three albums have been remasterings of unreleased materials from her early days. No matter, the former Fleetwood Mac frontwoman can pack a stadium on the hits alone. Showtime: 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets: $49 to $295.

We Banjo 3

Midland Theatre. Contact: 740-345-5483, www.midlandtheatre.org In early February, We Banjo 3 stopped by Greenville High School in western Ohio to perform and answer students’ questions about traditional Irish music. Lead vocalist and guitarist David Howley admitted that strong stereotypes about his country often permeate such sessions. “Usually the first thing someone would (ask) is ‘Do you guys like beer?’ and the second thing was ‘Are leprechauns real?’” he said. Showtime: 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets: $35.

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SATURDAY

Road work

Run toward the rainbow this weekend to burn off the corned beef and green beer at two road races on Saturday. First, the annual St. Patrick's Day 5K at Flannagan's, 6835 Caine Road, will kick off at 10 a.m. Registration is $38 in advance, $45 on Saturday, and includes admission to the pub's party. At 6 p.m., the St. Patrick's Day 4-Miler at Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club, 3737 Village Club Drive, Powell, will step off, with registration costing $50, or $40 for ages 17 and younger. Visit www.ultrafit-usa.com or www.premierraces.com.

Bon Jovi

Nationwide Arena. Contact: 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com Details: Jon Bon Jovi’s latest tour is named after his 2016 release “This House is Not for Sale,” but devout fans can expect a mix of old and new. Showtime: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $19.75 to $570.

The Oak Ridge Boys

Midland Theatre. Contact: 740-345-5483, www.midlandtheatre.org The quartet has cycled through dozens of vocalists and band members in its 74-year history, but the commitment to pure gospel and country has stayed the same. Tickets are selling quickly. Showtime: 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $48 to $58.

"Pixar in Concert"

Ohio Theatre. Contact: 614-469-0939, www.columbussymphony.com Time: 8 p.m. Saturday. Admission: $25 to $68. A word of advice to those who attend “Pixar in Concert”: bring tissues. The Saturday show will feature the Columbus Symphony performing parts of the musical scores from 14 Pixar films as clips are shown on an overhead projection screen. The show features some instruments not found in an orchestra, such as saxophones, which are necessary to play several of the songs composed by Randy Newman. That includes the encore, which is the iconic “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from “Toy Story.”

The Texas Tenors won't be presenting a typical classical-music show at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Midland Theatre. Instead, Marcus Collins, John Hagen and JC Fisher will perform everything from Bruno Mars to Puccini as they treat audiences to a blend of country, classical, show tunes and pop. Tickets to see the group, which debuted six years ago on NBC's "America's Got Talent," cost $30 to $50. Call 740-345-5483 or visit www.midlandtheatre.org

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